Uber has started offering domestic and international flight bookings in the UK According to a Financial Times report, it plans to expand the service across the region in the coming weeks. Andrew Frame, the company’s managing director for the United Kingdom, declared the move “the most current and bold step” the company has taken to realize its mission to position itself as a comprehensive platform for travel booking.
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Uber first expressed interest in adding train, bus and flight bookings to the UK app in April last year.. Two months later, the company confirmed the arrival of the first two options for the platform. Prem declared that train bookings have been “surprisingly popular” so far. However, he did not provide exact ticket sales figures to The Times.
Tickets can be booked in collaboration with the agency
To make its flight services viable, Uber has partnered with travel booking agency Hopper. According to information published by The Times, Uber will add a booking fee to its future offerings and earn a commission on each sale.
The exact amount of commission is yet to be clarified, but it is worth noting that the company usually charges 25% of all fares to its partner drivers. The Times points out that this innovation could boost flight ticket sales and contribute to the expansion of Uber’s core business, as users often seek the service to get to and from the airport.
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Although flight bookings to the United Kingdom, one of the company’s main markets outside of North America, are restricted, the region is only considered a testing ground for Uber’s intentions. The company intends to expand its flight services to more countries in the future, but does not yet have concrete plans for such a move.
This isn’t the first time Uber has taken a risk in air travel and transportation. It is worth remembering that in 2019, the company offered helicopter tours in the United States for 200 USD, however, this service was stopped amid the restrictions imposed by the pandemic.
via: Engadget
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